Tech Thursday: The world in 2018 part one
2018 is set to be the year for tech, space and science innovation around the world. Here are some developments to look forward to.
2018 will be a year of firsts; India’s first trip to the moon, a vaccine for Diabetes, and many other innovations. Here is part one of the developments we look forward to in 2018:
1. India will launch its first space mission to the moon
China landed the Yutu rover on the Moon in 2013 but no one has set foot on the moon since. India plans to break this dry spell by launching its first lunar rover in March 2018. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced it would make its debut this year.
2. Scientists will push CRISPR gene-editing to go to clinical trials
CRISPR is a gene-editing tool that Chinese scientists tested on a human for the first time in 2017. Both America and China want to be the first to get the tool into clinical trials. The countries could go head-to-head as the pioneers of the DNA editing tool that could reverse ageing, cure inherited disease to avoid gene repetition and modify genes.
3. NASA’s robotic Lander InSight will land on Mars
The NASA spacecraft Lander InSight is set to land on Mars in November 2018. It will be carrying several science instruments together with the names of 827 000 people who signed up to add their names to a silicon microchip onboard the robotic spacecraft.
4. Vaccine for type 1 Diabetes will begin human trials
It’s been decades in the making but the time will finally come for a prototype vaccine that provides immunity against Type 1 Diabetes to begin clinical trials. The vaccine helps trigger the body’s defenses against the disease.
5. Bitcoin could reach $60 000 in 2018
Bitcoin could reach its record year in value at the end of the year. The Cryptocurrency is predicted to grow more than triple its record value to $60 000 (R743 310) by December 2018. This is according to Marvin Dumont, a senior editor for Bitcoin.com.
